Sifter top



Patented Aug. 12, 1924,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY W. JONES, OF rNEIN YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAN COMPANY, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORQRATION F NEW JERSEY. i

SIFTER TOP.

T 0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY W. JONES, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sifter Tops, of which the following is a specification.

rIlhis invention relates in general to sifter top cans and has for its object broadly the l0 provision of new and improved construction in cans having tops of this character wherein the sifter openings are provided by the manipulation by the user of the material of the can and without providing any separate member or members for the closing of the perforation or sifter openings.

A principal object of the present inven tion is the provision of a construction in which the sifter openings will be tightly closed when thecan is received by the user `and which will permit of the establishment of sifting conditions by the user and through the exertion of a lightly applied pressure to the can wall or end. The invention contemplates in this respect a construction wherein the sifter openings may be provided by the user through and as a result of pressure exerted by his hand upon an appropriate portion of the can end.

Another principal object of the invention is the manner in which the cuts aremade in the metal walls of the can and again closed, so that linely powdered material will not sift through during transportation and handling. This is accomplished by first making a dome top or profile (the profile ymay be of any configuration) of larger area than is actually desired, then slitting the metal to eventually Vwhere the sifter openings will appear and then through a compression of the dome surface by die action the dome area is reduced somewhat, so that the cut edges of the openings will be tightly pressed together. In cutting metal in this manner more or kless stretch occurs and it is very difficult to slit metal in this manner and push the parts back into their normal positionv and have the cut edges in close enough contact, so that finely divided material would not sift through. But by the method justdescribed I am able to cut through the metal, thus locating sifter openings and then press the parts together again by a compressive method and get them so Application filed June 12, 1920. Serial No. 388,535.

tight that iinely powdered material will not sift through.

Another important object of the invention is theprovision of a disintegrator extending inwardly of the can from the sifter end.

JAnother important object of the invention is the provision of a can having these and other advantages which will not require the provision of additional parts or additional materials and which will be cheap to manufacture and of distinctive and pleasing appea-rance.

Numerous other' objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a can embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the same; J

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the top.

For the purpose of illustrating my inveni tion I have indicated on the drawing a can body 10 of any preferred form and material Iand a sheet metal end 11 suitably seamed thereto. In the present instance I provide an outwardly extending dome portion as indicated at 12 in Fig. 2. Lines of severance 13 are provided to set off lips or parts 14 disposed about the edge of the dome 12 and extending in toward a common center, i. c.. the center of the dome.

The lines of severance 13 are formed by cutting through the material. This cutting action or operation tends to press inwardly the dome and produce openings extending ting is accomplished the central part of the domel is pressed into position leaving merely lines extending about the lips.

The central part4 of the dome is adapted to be pressed in by pressure exerted by the thumbs of the user to produce separation on the lines of cut, thereby providing sifter openings and without the need of employing a lpointed tool or implement as has fre- 'about the edges of the lips. After the cutquently been required in connection with the use of structures usually provided prior to my present invention, such structures having lips set oft by scored lines, said lips being capable of being broken away about their edges and bent into the can by pressure Y exertedby a punching tool or pointed imple- Y ment.

In. a cani embodying my present invention j the central part of the dome may be pressed inwardly and willreceive a permanent inward set providing the openings as nien! tionedfor sifting'aii'd providing also for the disintegration or Abreaking up of lumps within the contents of the can.

It is thought'that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing without further description, and it will be apparent that vvariouschanges may be made-in the form,

construction and arrangement of the parts withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its inaterial advantages, the forni hereinbefore being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

lv claim: Y Y i.

l. A can wall having lines cut through it and-the parts ofvsaid wall being left in position to substantially close the can, the mate- ;rial of'said wall at lone side of said lines being capable of being pressed inwardlyof the can to providewidened spacesV forming sifter openings.-

mediateportions adapted to yield to said I bending but which remain integral with and acioss'the sifter top. Y 4. Ak can wall having sifter openings formedby cutting and partly separating portions of the material of the wall, said Openings: being closable after cutting by Y pressing the material of the wall toits originalloeation, and said openings being'opened pressing the wall inwardly ofthe can .and relatively to the partly severed portions.

` 5.k `Annan wall liavingcurved severed lines arranged about a lcentral partsaid central part beingrcapablepofbeing pressed ininwardly of-thecan, while maintaining its ceiitralposition, to pro-'videopenings at said 'Y f lines off-icute..V Y Y Y ,6.1 A .ca nwall having curved severed lines arranged about, a central part said central part being capable of .being pressed inof V-the. can, while maintaining its central position, to provide openings at said severed lines.

7. A can wall having lips set off by sevei'ed lines and arranged in a circle, the inaterial of the wall within the circle and between the lips beingcapable of being depressed to provide sifteropenings at said severed lines.

8. A can wall having lips set off by severed lines and arranged in a circle, the niaterial of the wall( within the circle and said lips being normally pressed outwardly ol? the can and said material between said lips and within said circle being capable of being pressed inwardly of the can to provide sitter openings.

S). Arcan wall having an outwardly protruding dome portion provided with severed lines7 the central part of said dome portion ,eing capable of being pressed inwardly to provide sifter openiiigson said severed lines.

l0. A can wall consisting of two portions held within the saine plane by a plurality of contacting elements, one portion being adapted to be moved from the plane whereby the contacting elements separate from one another to provide Ysifter openings between each two contacting elements.

ll. A can wall having a stationary outer portion and a depressible inner portion, the connection between said outer portion and said inner portion being integral with :i sei'iesof attaching elements adapted to separate at their abutting edges upon movement of the inner depressible portion.

l2.Y A can wall having a stationary outer portion and a depressible inner portion, the connection between said outer portion and said inner portion being integral with a series of attaching elements adapted to separate attlieir abutting edges upon movement `of the inner depressible iortion, and to provide thereby a plurality o siftcr openings i3. A can wall comprising contiguous elements disposed within the saine plane, the

innermost element having a capability of movement relative to said plane, an intermediate element surrounding the innermost .element and connected therewith and consisting of a series of adjacent abutting parts, also connected with-an outer element, the adjacent parts of the intermediate element separating Jfrom each other upon the movement Vof the innermost element from the initial plane.

Y HARRY W. JONES.

llt) 

